WATERBURY — The city plans to remove a dam that officials said should benefit the redevelopment of a South Main Street property. Waterbury was awarded a $339,000 grant from the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to support the project. Jim Nardozzi, the executive director of the Waterbury Development Corporation, said the removal of the Risdon Dam “will contribute to the economic redevelopment of the property” at 2100 South Main St., which is the former site of Risdon Manufacturing. “(Waterbury Development Corporation) supports the removal of the dam and thus were happy to learn of the recent grant award for the study and planning of the dam’s eventual removal,” Nardozzi said. The city said the funding will be used for the “environmental investigation, engineering design and permitting” needed to remove the dam. That process could take a year to unfold before the city contracts a construction company to remove the dam. “This grant represents another important investment in Waterbury’s infrastructure and environmental stewardship,” Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. said in a statement. “Removing the Risdon Dam will improve the health of Hopeville Pond Brook, reduce flood risks, and help restore a more resilient ecosystem for future generations. We appreciate DEEP’s partnership and support in helping us move this important project forward.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/waterbury/article/waterbury-ct-risdon-dam-removal-22334296.php